HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is an application-level protocol used for transmitting data between a web browser and a web server. It forms the foundation of data exchange on the World Wide Web.
When you enter a URL in your browser, such as “http://www.example.com”, the browser sends an HTTP request to the server specified in the address. The server then responds by sending back an HTTP response, which typically contains an HTML page but can also include other types of data such as images, videos, or files. HTTP follows a client-server model, where the web browser acts as the client and the web server acts as the server. HTTP is a stateless protocol, meaning that each request is handled independently, without any connection to previous or subsequent requests.
In the context of cybersecurity, it’s important to note that HTTP traffic is transmitted in plain text, making it vulnerable to interception and manipulation. To ensure data security, it is recommended to use the HTTPS (HTTP Secure) protocol, which encrypts data using SSL/TLS.
